I have a rule of thumb. If you call someone you disagree with a Nazi, you can guarantee that I will never take anything you say seriously, ever.

I will take some responsibility here and acknowledge that while George W. Bush was President, I’m sure there were times when I used overheated rhetoric to describe him and his policies. I can see in retrospect how ridiculous it sounds, and wish that I could do it again, I would have tried to be more logical and less “chicken little” in my criticisms of him and his policies.

I think your story actually supports the case for universal care.

When people use the emergency room as their primary source of care, no one wins. It’s expensive (to society), there is no preventive care, and when other people have real emergencies, they wait unnecessarily. And I wonder just how much the hospital is subsidizing the people without insurance who come to the emergency room. So indirectly people with insurance are already paying for the uninsured.

I cannot imagine what it is like not to be able to see a doctor in an office, whenever I have a concern or problem. Our insurance does not even require a “referral” to a specialist. My family has had absolutely great healthcare, so far.

But the stories I have heard on TV involve people who got sick and then their insurance companies found a way to cut them off and not pay for the needed care. So even people who have “good” insurance may not be as covered as they think they are. Watch Bill Moyers for an insider’s take on this.

I guess people who do not have insurance do the best they can. But I am sure that they are not checked for high blood pressure early enough to prevent a serious illness. They never see a dermatologist who could diagnose skin cancer while it is still treatable. And as for colonoscopies at 50, forget it.

I believe that people without insurance do not live as long. Of course that is subject to interpretation, because people who do not have insurance are poor. And poor people die sooner than rich people, so is it the insurance or something else?

I hope your wife finally got the right treatment.

Roger

When we left at midnight, the room was still packed with new faces of minority moms and their children. This was not a pretty picture or experience. And as you know, we live in a small town environment with a low population. This is a grass roots issue that requires people once again learning how to take care of common, non-life threating illnesses.

I’m afraid that our entitlement system has gone amok. We now have generations of Americans who do not want to or know how to contribute but only receive government handouts. What ever happened to that rugged individualism of the 60′s? The attitude that was once considered American.

It’s easy to get frustrated, not to mention cynical. There is also a possibility that changing a complex system will result in unforeseen results that we will not like. On the other hand is the current system viable?

I would prefer a debate on the issues. What is the problem? What are the possible solutions? What is the best solution?

Is there a moral responsibility to provide adequate health care for all of our citizens? What do we mean by health?

Would a single payer system stifle innovation? Is the fee for service model of compensation for doctors the problem? Do we need to change the medical malpractice system? Do people demand more medical services because they have such low copays?

Should people be able to buy health insurance from a company in another state? Should individuals be able to buy bare bones medical coverage and the government provide catastrophic insurance for everyone?

All good questions. I’m still working on the answers.

Roger

Yes, I have heard the conspiracy theories of who is behind the angry demonstrations. But I think there may be more going on. In any event, it is extremely disturbing.

Paul Krugman writes today that “angry protesters — some of them, with no apparent sense of irony, shouting “This is America!” — have been drowning out, and in some cases threatening, members of Congress trying to talk about health reform.”

Since when is drowning out an opponent part of the American way? And threatening a member of Congress! Ugh! I agree with you that these tactics will backfire. I sure hope so.

Roger

Bill O’Reilly frequently invites guests on his show with whom he disagrees. Yet, he has been trying to get on the show “All things considered” on left-leaning NPR–and he has been unsuccessful. As he says, maybe the show’s name should be changed to “All things considered except O’Reilly.”

I’m not saying I like O’Reilly or his program, but in orchestrating “shout down” matches at town meetings, the conservatives are damaging their already vacuous (or non-existent agenda).